Studied by 4 people
“Distaining fortune with his brandish’d steel which smoked with bloody execution” - Captain
“Distaining” - Contemptuous - reckless - foreshadows Macbeth belief in being able to control his fate - disregards morals
Foreshadows Macbeth ignoring the signs of his defeat - strong character - not easily swayed
“Brandished” - violent verb - connotations of being skilful - admired
Links to romanticised bloodshed in the context of war - Macbeth is fighting for his country his actions are righteous - honourable
Ironic - behaves in the same ruthless way - viewed as tyrannical - horrific
Shakespheare - criticising the culture of aggressive masculinity - honourable warfare
Manly trait - admired for his physical power
“Steel” - metaphorical for Macbeth’s false appearance - tough - brave on the outside - weak - traitorous behind closed doors
Links to the motif of a “dagger” in the play - used to commit regicide - feared by it - juxtaposes the interpretation of a brave - skilful figure
Irony - Macbeth is killed by Macduff using a sword for his patriotic actions
“His” - personal pronoun - heightens the sense of M - sword being one
“Bloody” - violence - execution - idea of a swift - purposeful killing
“Smoked” - fire - symbolise danger - rage - foreshadows his later insanity - in Act 3 scene 4 - catalyses more murders
Connotations of hell linking to GCOB - disrupting it - go to hell
“Like valor’s minion” - Captain
Simile - audacious - fearless
“Valor” - courageous in the face of danger - emphasises his herosim
“Valor’s minion” - servant of bravery
“What hath lost noble Macbeth hath won” - Captain
Repetitive structure - sense of inevitability - links to the idea of fate
Dramatic irony - reference to the traitorous Thane of Cawdor - Macbeth will be his replacement
Ironic - Macbeth is far more traitorous
Duncan’s speaking about Macbeth in a kind - uplifting nature - only right if it is reciprocated
Rhyming couplet - reinforces the idea of a new beginning for Macbeth
“Lost” - “Won” - same sentence - foreshadows new effect having a title will Macbeth - lose his humanity - friends
“O valiant cousin worthy gentleman” - Captain
“Till he unseam’d him from the nave to the chaps”
Ruthless - merciless in battle
Proves the violence he is capable of
Inhumane description - admiration yet appalling
SUMMARY
The captain - King Duncan are praising Macbeth’s bravery - valour during battle in contrast to the traitorous Thane of Cawdor
